Source
r/StreetFighter•
post_ironic

Feels like most of the top non-JP SF5 streamers that are high rank are either using gamepad or hitbox. Why is this?

Discussion

Is stick just wholly inferior? I see input errors come out from everyone but being able to use two seperate fingers for forward and backward respectively instead of having to move a stick from one side of a gate chamber to another really seems to be an undeniable advantage.

The way people on hitbox move their characters is immediately noticable. Playing top ranked players, it's starting to feel like things might be easier on pad or hitbox. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Would love to hear about experiences from people who switched from stick to either.

Posted May 7, 2021, 10:57 PM UTC

215
Mozambeepbeep•

Most of these players are younger & didn't grow up in the arcade era, which died out after the 90s. Japan is the only country in the world that still has arcades, but you can see most of the younger players using pad. Once a lot of the older players retire(2025 - 2030), stick players will be a rarity.

5
The_Ninja_Master•

If you're going by what's "objectively" better, the answer is hitbox 100%. There's tradeoffs between stick and pad, so I'd say those are interchangeable.

3
frarlicgies•

The real advantage that’s noticeable for me is the micro walking. On pad it’s kinda difficult to quickly move back and forth for footies without accidentally dashing or jumping. On hitbox or stick the difference is huge and worth learning for that alone imo. But SFV is definitely pad friendly.

2
gaszornihnplaht•

That very much depends on the precision of the dpad hardware in the controller. I never jump when trying to micro walk, nor do I ever unintentionally dash. There is a very wide variance in dpad quality between controllers.

1
Global-Breakfast-349•

I use a stick because a d-pad can be murder on your thumb joint in fighting games.

2
Demon_Curse•

Pads are factually inferior. Certain inputs are too difficult be done and it requires multiple button macros to mimic basic functions of a stick. While yes, some pro players can excel with a pad, that is not the norm but the exception. Even then, some of them still struggle with inputs that are not only difficult on a stick, but are near impossible on pad.

A hitbox is character dependent. Usually charge characters benefit more from a hitbox. However there is some controversy as a hitbox essentially removes the execution barrier and gives an unfair advantage that the game developers did not intend.

-8
freakhill•

aah i don't agree, pads are slightly better than sticks for sfv.

pads are faster for movement (by virtue of having a shorter distance to travel to input said movements). + your fingers are closer to every single button. these 2 effects compound for slightly better reaction times.

+ pads are lighter (good for offline tournaments).

hitbox benefits all characters in similar ways (except, mmmaybe zangief, because of the risk of dropping CA). it does benefit charge characters more.

Takeuchi John did switch from pad to stick because buffers are easier to input on stick according to him.

Japan has been seeing a noticeable switch to hitbox for 1-2 years now. If you see the recent Japan CPT top8:

- Hitbox: Kawano, Daigo, Momochi, Tokido
- Stick: Itazan, Fuudo, Mago, Takeuchi John

On the opposite side, lots (looots) of stick players use pad for DBFZ in Japan (it was a big thing when the game released, lots of them bought pads for the game).

4
baroldo12345•

I agree i think is the most pad friendly street fighter, mostly because of how prevalent and powerful dashing is

2
Demon_Curse•

A thumb isn't as dexterous as the entire wrist. Standing 360s were only really possible on sticks until input leniency was lowered during SF4. Some inputs are still damn near impossible to do on pad such as TKCS. I won't even discuss SNK style inputs. This is not a matter of opinion, this is factual. Outside of a few players, some inputs just can't be done on pad.

As for button presses, on a stick, your fingers are covering 5 of the 6 buttons. On a pad the thumb is split between 4 buttons, forcing you to use the shoulders, one of which is on the same side as inputting directions which is awkward for special moves. The reliance on macros is also a hindrance as people were struggling with how to map or perform v-shift. This problem also existed with red focus during SF4.

0
freakhill•

i went and watched a NL replay, one of the best cammy player in the world. he doesn't use TKCS, you don't need TKCS in SFV which makes your point entirely moot.

and unless you have a very weird hand (6 fingers? 2 thumbs?) you are not covering 5 or 6 buttons. Pad buttons allow for faster reactions (straight of the mouth of Mago and Tokido here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7IvmvYfHnk , i will let you find a way to translate by yourself)

Final point, 6-facing buttons pads are a thing, and there are multiple ways to hold a pad. For instance regular (a la punk), the nuckledu hold, the "monster hunter" hold as Kichipa uses etc.

As about pads and 360s, SnakeEyez won EvO with Zangief using a pad, in SF2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O-Vjf3Ntyw

And for SFV 2 of the best Zangief player in the world (Kichipa and Snakeeyes) are pad players.

0
Demon_Curse•

You know who just won a CPT and relied on TKCS constantly? Mago. Saying Cammy doesn't need TKCS is like saying Karin doesn't need JFT. Cammy isn't the only character that requires that particular motion as well. And how does 5 fingers not cover 5 buttons? Also, you keep pointing out exceptional people. The typical player can't perform these moves on a pad due to their difficulty. Very few people can perform a standing 360 on pad in SF2 compared to how easy it is to perform on stick. Pointing out the best of the best doesn't help your argument that the motions are easy to perform for the average player. It's why input leniency has increased over the years.

0